How Much Does It Cost to Move an Apartment?

Studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom cost examples

The following local full-service examples come from PODS' 2026 moving-cost guide, using estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha as of June 2026. They cover loading, transport and unloading; taxes and insurance are excluded. They are city-specific comparisons, not price promises for your apartment.

These examples do not establish that adding one bedroom increases the price by a fixed amount. The cities and routes differ too. Get itemized estimates for the same inventory before choosing a service.

What changes with apartment size?

Studio or small apartment

Make a short furniture list before assuming everything fits in one vehicle trip. Measure the largest pieces and check the exit route. Decide whether you can safely handle loading or need help with just the heavy items. Even a small move can have a minimum booking charge, so ask what the minimum includes rather than multiplying an advertised hourly rate by a hoped-for hour.

One-bedroom apartment

List the bedroom, living area and kitchen separately. Count large appliances only if you own them and are taking them. Ask who will disassemble the bed, protect the mattress and reconnect anything that needs specialist attention. Check the contents of closets and storage areas before accepting an inventory-based quote.

Two-bedroom apartment

Describe how you use the second room. A guest bed, home office or child's room creates a different inventory. Add any separate storage unit, patio furniture or garage belongings. If you are combining two households, list each pickup address and ask how that changes the service.

For moves across state lines, use the out-of-state moving-cost guide. The local examples above should not be used to estimate a long-distance route.

Ask both buildings these questions before booking

A building-access problem can disrupt an otherwise careful plan. Confirm the practical details with the property manager at the old and new apartment, then send them to the mover.

• Which move dates and hours are allowed?
• Does the elevator need a reservation, and what happens if the move runs beyond it?
• Are there move-in or move-out fees, refundable deposits or required documents?
• Is a certificate of insurance required from the moving company?
• Where can the vehicle park or a container be placed, and is permission needed?
• Are there stairs, narrow doors or a long carry between the loading area and apartment?

These are questions to ask, not charges every apartment will have. Request the amount and refund conditions for anything that applies. Tell the mover about access restrictions before the estimate is finalized; a reservation with the building does not automatically mean the mover's price includes every access-related cost.

Budget for your lease transition separately

Write down the old lease end date, the new lease start date and the date you can actually collect the keys. If they do not line up, calculate the extra housing cost using your agreements. A few days of overlap may make the move practical; it still needs funding.

Ask the new landlord for an itemized move-in statement. Separate nonrefundable charges, refundable security deposits and rent paid in advance. Check your old agreement for cleaning responsibilities and any early-termination terms before assuming a standard charge applies.

USAGov directs renters to state-specific tenant-rights resources. Deposit limits, fee rules and return requirements are not the same everywhere, so this guide does not assume a universal one-month deposit or refund deadline.

Do not count on the old deposit arriving in time to fund the new one. Track the expected refund separately and build a plan that works if it arrives later than moving day.

An illustrative one-bedroom apartment budget

This example is Peyson's own planning exercise, not a market average. It assumes a local move, no paid storage and the following chosen amounts:

• Moving service: $900
• Packing supplies: $100
• Cleaning: $150
• Extra overlapping rent: $450
• Travel and moving-day food: $75
• Immediate setup purchases: $175

The expense subtotal is $1,850. An illustrative 10% contingency adds $185, giving $2,035. If a separate refundable deposit of $1,400 is also due, funding these items requires $3,435 before refunds. Ordinary first month's rent and other regular bills are not included in that example and must still be funded when due.

In the calculator, use “Other costs” for the $450 overlap. Leave the refundable deposit separate if you want the $2,035 expense view. If you include it in “Deposits and fees” for a cash-funding view, remember that the chosen contingency percentage also applies to it.

How to keep a small move from becoming an expensive one

Start by deciding which furniture belongs in the next apartment. Check room and doorway dimensions before paying to move an item you cannot use. Compare a complete DIY plan with a complete paid-service plan, including travel, equipment and any help you need at the destination.

Keep essentials out of the packed load so you can use the apartment before every box is open. The free First Night Box Checklist can help with that. Label the rest by room and priority using the box-labeling guide.

If two people are sharing the move, agree who pays each bill and whether a deposit refund belongs to one person or both. For ongoing household costs after the move, use the Split Bills Based on Income Calculator separately from this one-time moving budget.

What if you do not have quotes yet?

Enter provisional amounts, mark them as estimates in your notes and identify the most uncertain item. Replace that item first when a quote arrives. Avoid treating the bottom of a published range as money you have already saved. Your working total should become more reliable as you confirm the inventory, building access and dates.

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